- 1 

.N429 

Copy 1 NEW ENGLAND 

HISTORIC GENEALOGICAL 
SOCIETY 

Incorporated 1845 




SOCIETY'S BUILDING 

18 Somerset Street, Boston 
1906 



Statibopc press 

F. H. GILSON COMPANY 
BOSTON, U. S. A. 



Gitt 
Tbe Society 

'06 



New England 
Historic Genealogical Society. 



HISTORY. 



The New England Historic Genealogical Society 
was formed in 1844, "for the purpose of collecting, 
preserving, and publishing genealogical and histor- 
ical matter relating to New England families., and 
for the establishment and maintenance of a cabinet." 

Few genealogical books were printed in America 
prior to the founding of the Society. Since its 
incorporation, almost every genealogical work of 
consequence in America is traceable, either directly 
or indirectly, to the influence of the Society, which 
is the most important genealogical society in 
America. 

MEMBERSHIP. 

The Society consists of Honorary, Corresponding, 
Life, and. Resident Members. Resident Members 
pay five dollars on admission, and five dollars 
annually on the ist of January, and receive the 
New England Historical and Genealogical Register. 
Membership is not limited to residents of New 
England, and is open to women. 

3 



4 NEW ENGLAND HISTORIC 

Any member may become a Life Member and 
receive the Register, by the payment of fifty dollars 
at one time. Engraved certificates of membership 
are furnished if desired. Application for member- 
ship should be made through some Life or Resident 
IMember. In order to increase the number of Life 
and Resident Members, blank forms for nomina- 
tions will be furnished upon application to the 
Corresponding Secretary. 

MEETINGS. 

Stated meetings of the Society are held at i8 
Somerset Street, Boston, on the first Wednesday 
of every month, except from June to September 
inclusive. At these meetings original papers and 
essays are read. 

NEW ENGLAND HISTORICAL AND 
GENEALOGICAL REGISTER. 

The New England Historical and Genealogical 
Register is pubhshed by the Society quarterly in 
January, April, July, and October of each year. 

Each number contains ninety-six or more octavo 
pages of valuable and interesting matter concerning 
the History, Antiquities, Genealogy, and Biography 
of America, vdtha portrait of some deceased member. 

Commenced in 1847, it is the oldest historical 
and genealogical periodical now published in this 



GENEALOGICAL SOCIETY 5 

country; and its contributors comprise a list of 
the most eminent and competent writers on gen- 
ealogy in New England, with many in other States 
and foreign countries. 

Terms of Subscription, three ($3.00) dollars per 
annum, in advance, commencing January; free to 
Resident Members paying five ($5.00) dollars an- 
nually, and to Life Members who have paid fifty 
($50.00) dollars at one time into the Life Member- 
ship Fund, 

A full set of the magazine sells at more than 
double the original subscription cost. 

OTHER PUBLICATIONS. 

At the present time the Society is publishing: — 
I. The Vital Records (Births, Marriages, and 
Deaths) of Massachusetts towns, from the date of 
incorporation to the end of the year 1849. These 
are printed by a fund of $20,000 set apart from the 
bequest of Robert Henry Eddy to the Society, and 
are sold to members and others, if ordered in advance 
of pubh cation, at the rate of one cent per printed 
page. Only a hmited number of copies is printed. 
The type is then distributed, and the extra copies 
held on sale at a considerable advance on the sub- 
scription price. 

The Vital Records of Montgomery, Pelham, 
Walpole, Peru, Alford, Hinsdale, Medfield, Lee, 



6 NEW ENGLAND HISTORIC 

Becket, Sudbury, Tyringham, Bedford, ><e\v Brain- 
tree, Great Barrington, Washington, Gill, Arlington, 
Waltham, Chilmark, Bellingham, Palmer, Medway, 
Newton, Edgartown, Norton, and Dalton, have 
been printed by the Society, and those of Stur- 
bridge, Medford, Dracut, Middlefield, Tisbury, 
Scituate, West Stockbridge, Billerica, Weymouth, 
Foxborough, Wayland, Williamstown, Pembroke, 
HoUiston, Dover, Brookline, Heath, Granville, 
Hopkinton, Towrisend, Carver, Duxbury, Hing- 
ham, Taunton, Worthington, Hanson, Stow, 
Bridgewater, East Bridgewater, West Bridgewater, 
Chester, and Richmond are in course of prepara- 
tion. 

An effort is being made by the Societ\- to induce 
the other New England States to print their early' 
records of births, marriages, and deaths. 

2. Proceedings of the Annual Meetings, contain- 
ing obituary notices of deceased members; distrib- 
uted free to members of the Society and to all 
donors to the Library. 

3. Biographies of deceased members, prepared 
by the Society's Historian, and jmnted by the 
Towne Memorial Fun ' 

4. A Consolidated Index of persons and places 
in the first fifty volumes of the New England Histor- 
ical and Genealogical Register, in process of pub- 
lication. 

5. Waters's "Genealogical Gleanings in Eng- 



GENEALOGICAL SOCIETY 7 

land," the result of nearly twenty years' work, and 
costing nearly $30,000, in two volumes. 

6. Abstracts of Wills from the Prerogative Court 
of Canterbury, at Somerset House, London. Regis- 
ter Soanie, containing the wills of the year 1620, has 
over 600 pages, with about 40,000 names of persons 
and 10,000 of places. The price is $6.00 per volume . 
To carry on EngHsh research successfully, the 
Society should have a special fund of $15,000, dona- 
tions to which are solicited. 

The Society has undertaken to copy and arrange 
systematically all records of births, marriages, and 
deaths, from court files, early New England news- 
papers, church records, clergymen's and sextons' 
private records, gravestone inscriptions, and family 
Bibles; but to do this work, special donations amount- 
ing to at least $10,000 are needed. Some of these 
records should be printed. 

Stationer}^ of a uniform character will be furnished 
free by the Librarian to members and others who will 
undertake any copying for the Society. 

The Society has taken steps to encourage the 
printing of indexes to all wills, deeds, and court 
files, and of the proprietors' records and town pro- 
ceedings of New England towns. 

LIBRARY. 

The Library of the Society is open daily (Sundays 
and hoHdays excepted), from 9 a.m. to 5.30 p.m., 



8 NEW ENGLAND HISTORIC 

and is free to all. It contains many thousands of 
volumes, pamphlets, and manuscripts relating to 
New England families and localities. The Library 
is consulted by from fifty to one hundred persons 
daily, some of whom come from distant places for 
this purpose, and assistance in the selection of books 
is cheerfully given by attendants. Members are 
allowed to consult books at the shelves. 

Donations of cash for current expenses, and of 
genealogical books, are thankfully received. Recent 
genealogical publications presented to the Library 
are noticed in the Register. 

BUILDING. 

The Society has been heavily taxed during recent 
years by the rapid and constant increase of interest 
in history and genealogy, and its building is no 
longer adequate for the proper use and display 
of its Hbrary and its cabinet of Colonial and Rev- 
olutionary relics, nor has it sufficient permanent 
funds for the maintenance of its Library and the 
prosecution of its work. If a new building is to be 
erected, at least $150,000 in donations will be re- 
quired. 

Any of the executive officers will be glad to advise 
persons intending to give or bequeath money to the 
Society. 



i 



GENEALOGICAL SOCIETY 



AIDS TO GENEALOGICAL 
BEGINNERS. 

Beginners should first gather all available infor- 
mation from older relatives and from family papers. 
After consulting published books, one should search 
the wills and administrations of estates in the Pro- 
bate records, and should trace the property of per- 
sons under consideration in the Registry of Deeds. 
The Records and Files of the County Courts should 
also be examined. Town Records of Births, Mar- 
riages, and Deaths, Church books of Baptisms and 
Marriages, and the Cemeteries should be consulted. 
Records of military service have been published 
by the various States. The following books of 
reference will be found useful in beginning genea- 
logical research : — 

Munsell's "Genealogical Index." 
Savage's "Genealogical Dictionary." 
Pope's "Pioneers of Massachusetts." 
Hotten's "Lists of Early Passengers." 
Griffin's "Index to Local History." 
"New England Historical and Genealogical Regis- 
ter," 60 volumes. 

"Essex Institute Collections." 
The Society does not undertake research work; 
but \Adll, upon request, give the names of compe- 
tent professional genealogists. 



lO 



NEW ENGLAND HISTORIC 



PUBLICATIONS OF THE SOCIETY 
FOR SALE. 

New England Historical and Genealogical 

Register. Price list given on application. 

Memorial Biographies of | single volume . $2. 50 

Members, 6 volumes ^ set 1 2 . 00 

Rolls of Membersliip 50 

Waters's Genealogical Gleanings in England, 

2 volumes, set 10.00 

Abstracts of Prerogative Court of Canterbury 

Wills, Register ^(W.wr, 1620 6.00 

Vital Records : — 

Montgomery $t.oo Great Barrington $i . 25 

Pelham 2 . 25 Gill i . 25 

Walpole 2.75 Arlington 2.25 

Peru 1.50 Waltham 3.75 

Alford . 50 Chilmark 1-25 

Hinsdale i . 25 Bellingham 2 . 75 

Medfield 3-25 Palmer 3- 00 

Lee 3- 00 Medway 4-5° 

Becket 1.25 Newton 6.50 

Sudbury 4.25 Edgartown 3.50 

Tyringham i . 50 Norton 5 . 25 

Bedford i . 75 Dalton i . 25 

New Braintree 2.25 Sturbridge, in press 

Washington . 75 And others as published. 



GENEALOGICAL SOCIETY I I 

OFFICERS. 

The officers of the Society are a President; a 
Vice-President for each of the New England States; 
a Recording Secretary; a Corresponding Secretary; 
a Treasurer; and a Librarian. 

The Council of fifteen members consists of the 
President, Vice-President for Massachusetts, the 
two Secretaries, the Treasurer, and the Librarian, 
and nine elective members, three of whom are 
elected annually for a term of three years. There 
are also an Historian, an Editor of Publications, 
and a number of standing Committees, appointed 
annually by the Council. 

OFFICERS FOR 1906. 

President. 

Hon. James Phinxey Baxter, A.M., Litt.D. Portland. Me. 

Vice-Presidents. 

Caleb Benjamin IrLLiNGHAST, A.AL, Litt.D. . . . Boston. 

William Davis Patterson Wiscasset, Me. 

Jonathan Eastm.-vn Pecker. B.S Concord, N.H. 

Hon. Hoyt Henry Wheeler, LL.D. . . Brattleboro', Vt. 

George Corlis Nightingale Pro^^dence, R.I. 

James JuNms Goodwin Hartford, Conn. 

Recording Secretary. 
George Augustus Gordon, A.M .Somerville. 



12 NEW ENGLAND HISTORIC 

Corresponding Secretary. 
Henry Winchester Cunningham, A.B. . . , Manchester. 

Treasurer. 
Nathaniel Cushing Nash, A.M Cambridge. 

Librarian. 

William Prescoit Greenlaw Sudbury. 

The Council. 

Ex- Officiis. 

Hon. James Phinnpjy Baxter, A.M., Litt.D. 
Caleb Benjamin Tillinghast, A.M., Litt.D. 
George Augustus Gordon, A.M. 
Henry Winchester Cunningham, A.B. 
Nathaniel Cushing Nash, A.M. 
William Prescott Greeni,aw. 

For \go6. 

WiLLLAM Taggard Piper, A.M., Ph. D Cambridge. 

RuFus George Frederick Candage BrookHne. 

William Richard Cutter, A.M Woburn. 

For igo6, iQoy. 

Mary Alice Keach Providence, R.T. 

Frederick Lewis Gay, A.B Brookline. 

Charles Knowles Bolton, A.B Shirley. 

For igo6, iQoj, igo8. 

Helen Frances Kimball BrookUne. 

Francis Apthorp Foster Falmouth. 

Myles Standish, A.m., M.D Boston. 



GENEALOGICAL SOCIETY 1 3 



OFFICERS AND COMMITTEES FOR 1906. 



Appointed by the CounciL 



Historian. 

William Richard Cutter. A.M Wobuin. 

Editor of Publications. 
Henry Ernest Woods, A.M Boston. 

Committee on Finance. 

James Phinney Baxter, A.M., Litt.D., 

Chairman Portland, Me. 

Henry Winchester Cunningham, A.B. . . . Manchester. 

Nathaniel Cushing Nash, A.M Cambridge. 

Frederick Lewis Gay, A.B Brookline. 

WiLLLAM Taggard Piper, A.M., Ph.D Cambridge. 

Committee on Real Estate. 

James Phinney B.\xter, A.M., Litt.D., 

Chairman Portland, Me. 

Nathaniel Johnson Rust Boston. 

EDMU?iD Dana Barbour Boston. 

Henry Winchester Cunningham, A.B. . . . Manchester. 
Thomas Hills Boston. 

Committee on the Library, 

George Brown Knapp, A.M., Chairman Boston. 

Helen Frances Kimball Brookline. 

Myles Standish, A.m., M.D Boston. 

Joseph Gardner Bartlett Boston. 

William Prescott Greenlaw, ex-officio Sudb\iry. 



14 



NEW ENGLAND HISTORIC 



Committee on Publication. 

Caleb Benjamin Tixlinghast, A.M., Litt.D. 

Chairman Boston. 

Don Gleason Hill, A.M Dedliani. 

Charles Knowles Bolton, A.B Shirley. 

Francis Everett Blake Boston. 

Edmund Dana Barbour Boston. 

Committee on Papers and Essays. 

Albert Alonzo Folsom, Chairman Brookline. 

D.wiD Henry Brown, A.B Medford. 

William Carver Bates Newton. 

Mary Ella Stickney Waltham. 

Charles Knowles Bolton, A.B Shirley. 

Committee to Assist the Historian. 

Andrew Fiske, Ph.D., Chairman Weston. 

Rev. Silvanus Hayward, D.D Southbridge. 

Rev. Anson Titus Somerville. 

Ernest Lewis Gay, A.B Brookline. 

Edward Ch.4uncey Booth, A.B., M.D Somerville. 

Abram English Brown Bedford. 

Arthur Wendell Burnham Newton. 

Committee on English Research. 

Charles Sherburne Penhallow, A.B., 

Chairman 

Francis Apthorp Foster . 
Joseph Gardner Bartlett 
Jerome Carter Hosmer . 
William Eben Stone, A.B. 



. . Boston. 
. Falmouth. 
. . Boston. 
. . Boston. 
Cambridge. 



Committee on Heraldry. 



Henry Ernest Woods, A.M., Chairman Boston. 

Francis Apthorp Foster Falmouth. 

Boyi.ston Adams Beal, A.B., LL.P. Nahant. 



GENEALOGICAL SOCIETY 1 5 

Committee on Epitaphs. 

John Albree, Chairman . Swampscott. 

Charles Sidney Ensign, LL.B Newton 

John Bliss Brainerd, M.D Brookline. 

Mrs. Nellie Chaiiberlaln Pray Boston. 

RuFus George Frederick Candage Brookline. 

Charles French Read Brookline. 

George Walter Chamberlain. B.S Weymouth. 

Committee on Collection of Records. 

John Bliss Br aisie-rd, M..!)., Chairman .... Brookline. 

Arthur Greene Loring Woburn. 

Albert Matthews, A.B Boston. 

Mrs. Ida Louise Farr Miller Wakefield. 

Mrs. Ethel Stanwood Bolton, B.A Shirley. 

Stephen Paschatl Sharples, S.B Cambridge. 

William Prescott Grefnt.aw, ex-officio .... Sudbury. 

Committee on Consolidated Index. 

Francis Apthorp Foster, Chairman Falmoutli. 

William Prescott Greenlaw Sudbury. 

Nathaniel Cusiiing Nash, A.M Cambridge. 

Committee on Sale of Publications. 

Caleb Benjamin Tillinghast, A.M., Litt.D. 

Chairman Boston. 

Henry Ernest Woods, A.M Boston. 

Henry Winchester Cunningham, A.B. . . . Manchester. 

George Augustus Gordon, A.M Somerville. 

William Prescott Greenlaw Sudbury. 

Committee to Increase Membership. 

George Sumner Mann, Chairman Brookline. 

Charles Knowles Bolton, A.B Shirley. 

Albert Alonzo Folsom Brookline. 

Frank Ernest Woodward Maiden. 

Helen Frances Kimball Brookline. 



1 6 NEW ENGLAND HISTORIC 



FINANCIAL NEEDS OF THE SOCIETY. 

The attention of all persons interested in historical 

and genealogical research is called to the following 

estimate of the financial needs of the Society; 

For a new five-story fire-proof 
Library biiilding, with a hall 
to seat 300 persons, stack room 
for 250,000 books, and a read- 
ing room for 80 readers (tenta- 
tive plans can now be seen at 
the Society's rooms, and sug- 
gestions are invited) $60,000 

Library fixtures, furniture, etc. 30,000 

Land, 5,000 square feet, pur- 
chased, but not yet paid for 30,000 $120,000 

For addition to permanent fund, 
for purchase and binding of 
books, and increased expenses 
for care of a new building 
(calHng for $3,000 additional 
income per annum) -jc^poo 

For copying records of births, 
marriages, and deaths from 
court files, church records, 
clergymen's and undertakers' 
private records, graveyard in- 
scriptions and family Bibles 10,000 



GENEALOGICAL SOCIETY I 7 

For preparing and printing a 

catalogue of the 65,000 books 

and pamphlets belonging to 

the Society $8^000 

For Alphabetical Abstracts or 

Digest of personal items in the 

Boston News-Letter and other 

New England newspapers, 

from 1704 to 181 5, estimated 

to be equal to 8,000 printed 

pages ' 6,000 

For Genealogical research in 

England, a permanent fund . 15,000 

For printing Abstracts of Wills 

from the Prerogative Court of 

Canterbury, England 10,000 

For estimated loss in printing 

Vital Records to 1850 of Mas- 
sachusetts towns . 5,000 

The Treasurer, Nathaniel Cushing Nash, 18 
Somerset Street, Boston, and al! other officers of the 
Society, will be glad to advise persons intending 
to give or bequeath money to the Society. 



FORM FOR A BEQUEST. 

I give, devise, and bequeath to the New England Historic 
Genealogical Society, a corporation duly incorporated by the 
Commonwealth of Massachusetts, and located in the City of 

Boston in said Commonwealth, the sum of 

dollars for the general purposes of said Society. 

(// ii is the devisor's intention that the sum bequeathed shall 
he devoted to any particular object, it should he clearly and defi- 
nitely stated.) 



LIBRftRY OF CONGRESS 





